Installing Linux

[ahaziah77]

I was wanting to give linux a try, but am very unfamiliar with it. The question I have is, if I install linux and try it out, am I going ot lose my windows os? Should I back up windows before trying this out, and can anyone give me some useful tips to get started installing linux. Thanks,
aaron

[ahaziah77]

also,does anyone have any recommendations or opinions as to the best linux download?

[oz]

I was wanting to give linux a try, but am very unfamiliar with it. The question I have is, if I install linux and try it out, am I going ot lose my windows os? Should I back up windows before trying this out, and can anyone give me some useful tips to get started installing linux. Thanks,
aaron

Hello and welcome!

No you won't lose Windows unless you direct the installer to overwrite your current system.

Yes, you should always make a backup of your current system when working with partitions if the current system and data are of importance to you.

You can check the link in my signature for lots of good info on getting started with Linux.

also,does anyone have any recommendations or opinions as to the best linux download?

Since you've posted this in the Ubuntu forum, that would probably be a good place to start.

Good luck with all of it and do let us know how it goes.

[ahaziah77]

thanks for the info, much appreciated!

[MASONTX]

Distrowatch.com gives descriptions of the various linux distro's. In general, newbies find Ubuntu, Mint, PCLinuxOS, Lubuntu, Fedora, or Mandriva the easiest to start with. You gan use the search function at distrowatch to search for a complete list of beginner friendly distros. Download and burn to RW cd's or DVD's and try them out to see which one fits your hardware and computing style. Have fun.

[asifnaz]

I was wanting to give linux a try, but am very unfamiliar with it. The question I have is, if I install linux and try it out, am I going ot lose my windows os? Should I back up windows before trying this out, and can anyone give me some useful tips to get started installing linux. Thanks,
aaron

As a new user I would suggest you to install Ubuntu . Download it burn it with minimum possible speed and install it within windows in this way you can dual boot between Ubuntu and windows .
You can uninstall(if you wish) ubuntu from control panel > add remove programs like any other application .

[MikeTbob]

As a new user I would suggest you to install Ubuntu . Download it burn it with minimum possible speed and install it within windows in this way you can dual boot between Ubuntu and windows .
You can uninstall(if you wish) ubuntu from control panel > add remove programs like any other application .

That would be the WUBI install for Ubuntu.
Download | Ubuntu

[ahaziah77]

Wow, that one freaked me out. OK, here is the issue. I dont have an external hard drive right now, so no backup of my current system and I havent made one on disk either. I know ubuntu says you can boot off cd and select try ubuntu, without actually install. Well, I really wanted dto try it out, so I booted the disc and a screen came up with two little icons at the bottom. Nothing happened, Im not familiar with linux yet, but I do know that some of it is key command based (I guess...lol). So I was waiting and hit the right arrows key just see if I could select something, it went to a different screen that just said ubuntu and had a load bar. So I got freaked and didnt know if it was acutally installing or what, I never saw an option to select try now or install. I aborted and got really worried I lost my windows. Everything seems fine though. I know that backing system is smart thign to do, but can anyone give me an idea of what to expect when ubuntu first boots? I would still like to try it, working on getting hard drive, but would like to try it boefore then if I can do so safely.


One other question, when I get external, can I partition that so I can have my windows pc backed up on one and keep my linux on the other?


thanks a bunch,
Aaron

[oz]

can anyone give me an idea of what to expect when ubuntu first boots? I would still like to try it, working on getting hard drive, but would like to try it boefore then if I can do so safely.

When you run Ubuntu from the liveCD, it should not have any impact on the system that is currently installed to the hard disk, and your hard drive partitions should not even be mounted unless you choose to mount them yourself. If you decide to install Ubuntu to the hard drive, the installer will ask you if you want to use the entire drive for the installation (thereby removing the current system), or if you want to create and use other partitions for Ubuntu. It's all pretty much menu driven and a very easy process.

[MikeTbob]

When you boot the LiveCD, you are in no danger of anything. Unless you launch the Installer specifically or partition your hard drive, everything should be fine. You might see a bunch of text scroll by or you may only see a Ubuntu splash screen but eventually it will boot into a desktop.
When you get an external drive, you won't be messing with the internal drive anymore.....so the risk of data loss on internal drive should be minimal.